LIBERIAN ROOTS

SOME MUSIC ARCHIVE

Columbia, 1947
Artwork by Jim Flora

Cliquer ici pour modifier.

Liberia was the first African republic to proclaim its independence, on July 26, 1847, and is Africa's first and oldest modern republic. During the centennial celebration in 1947, the Liberian government offered a commission to Duke Ellington to compose a suite of music appropriate to such an occasion. The commission was accepted, and Duke Ellington's Liberian Suite was given its first public performance at a concert in Carnegie Hall on the night of December 26th, 1947 ; a second performance was given on the following night.

Folk Music of Liberia

Gio/Kpelle/Kru/Mandingo/Bassa/Loma
Ethnic Folkways Records (FE 4465), 1960
Recorded by Packard L. Okie
More information >>